Sudden Turn of Events: A Scheduled C-Section for Me!

Isn't it ironic that after my mental, physical and emotional preparation for a natural birth, my doctor said that she needs to do a Hysteroscopic removal of my uterine septum?

10 Weeks 3 Days Ultrasound showing a Septum

Yes, a septum can be resected with surgery. In this way, I'm being prepared for the next baby. We need to do this procedure to avoid any other problems in my next pregnancy (should we decide to get pregnant again). It is known that a septum is associated with a higher risk for miscarriage, premature birth, and malpresentation. According to the classical study by Buttram there is a 60% risk of a spontaneous abortion, this being more common in the second than in the first trimester. There are a lot of cases that a septum has not caused any problems and thus may not be removed but since I experienced a miscarriage before, my doctor would want to avoid that next time. Also, it's for our own peace of mind.

This pregnancy is truly a miracle for us. Having a lot of issues and risks from first to the last trimester, we are so thankful every single day for giving us the opportunity to carry Baby Xav for 32 weeks now. I don't mind whether it'll be natural or c-section, what's important for me is to bring him out safely and be able to embrace him alive. I'm so excited!

We will be choosing a date soon, but doctor said it can be from February 8-20. I think we'll choose February 8 since we are so excited to see him in person already.

On Cord Knots

I've been hearing horror stories about Umbilical Cord Complications and it's seriously making me very very nervous. I'm so glad to have reached 31 weeks of pregnancy and I thought I would only worry during my first trimester. After my advised bed rest during the first trimester I worried about my Septum on my second then now I'm worrying about any other third trimester complications such as Cord Knots! 

Last night I even woke up in the middle of the night and was so paranoid that my baby wasn't moving at all. I grabbed my phone and played a music in my tummy and was so happy the baby kicked then I went back to sleeping. I know I shouldn't be doing this to myself but seriously - I can't help it! I haven't told my hubby about this yet because I know he'll tell me to stop making it hard on myself. I don't want him to worry about me too much. 

So anyway, to reassure myself, aside from praying to our dear God, I Googled some info about Cord Knots. Here are the things I found out:

1. Umbilical cord knots occur in about one in every hundred pregnancies, but only one in 2,000 deliveries will have a true tight knot that could present problems for the baby. 

2. It is more common than knots are nuchal loops, the technical term for when the cord wraps around a baby's neck. Nuchal loops — also known as nuchal cords — occur in as many as a quarter of all pregnancies but rarely pose risks to the baby.

3. The most common sign of a cord knot is decreased fetal activity after week 37. 

4. There is nothing you can do to prevent a knotted umbilical cord. 

BUT I CAN, HOWEVER,:

1. Do a regular kick counts.

2. Call my practitioner if I notice any change in the fetal activity. 

I pray for the very best every day. May God continue to bless this pregnancy. 

My wish for Christmas is a good night sleep...

I’m already on my 30^th week and it’s getting harder and harder to sleep at night! I’m a light sleeper and with all the discomforts I’m experiencing now, it’s worse than ever! I wake up every hour from 2AM just to go to the comfort room and pee! My OB told me to limit my fluid intake from 7PM but it still didn’t help at all. Not to mention all the emotions that you’ll go through during your last trimester like excitement, worries and all that. I sometimes wake up in the wee hours and think about nursery decorations, hospital bag, baby shopping etc.! I also dream about a lot of stuff now, like last night we watched “August Rush” before sleeping and was so moved by the movie that I dreamt about our son – he’s already 11 years old! There are a lot of things that make me restless at night even though I was so tired during the day too like sometimes I wake up because the baby moves a lot, or the sudden leg cramps and all!

I told Nash last night that it’ll probably take one more year before I can have a good night sleep again.

Can you really feel the hiccups of your baby?

It's just so weird because I've been feeling this frequent patterned throbbing movements in my belly. It lasts for a minute or two and I'm just curious because it happens very frequent nowadays - starting from my 24th week. I know it's normal but I also know the feeling of having it and seriously I don't like hiccups. I always say "Kawawa naman si Baby, hiccups nanaman!".

Oh well, I just hope my baby's all good inside.

Well hello there, dark armpits!

There are a whole lot of skin changes during pregnancy, especially the darkening of your underarms. Even before I got pregnant I already know that it can happen to me. Sure I was prepared for this but I still scream now every time I look at my armpits in the mirror after shower. My eyes can’t believe how dark they are! I even spent around 50K years back for a laser treatment at Facial Care Center plus Skin Master at Belo only to find out it’ll be so freakin’ bad during pregnancy! Goodbye $$$, goodbye white armpits! People say it usually … USUALLY… disappears on their own after delivery, so I’m crossing all fingers for that. 

(Okay, move along... no picture for this post!)

7 months and still driving…

When I got pregnant I first thought I couldn’t drive at all. I was thinking maybe it’ll be too stressful for me and since my pregnancy is considered “high risk”, I thought I will be bound to stay at home for the most part. I gave a timeline for myself that I will only drive until December but I’m surprised that my pregnancy isn’t affected by driving, especially if you’re driving an automatic car. The key is to not overdo it, consult your OB first and wear your seat belt all the time!

I’m happy that I can still go out and have some fun shopping, watching movies, driving around the city, going to places, parties etc. Although it’s so true that you feel tired all the time! A little walking feels very tiring already plus the dilemma of going to the restroom every 30 minutes is really exhausting! I’m planning that on January - 8^th month, I’ll start to take things easy. I should be relaxing more and preparing for the coming of Baby G! I hope to finish my checklist before December! Weee! Exciting!

Patient-controlled Analgesia

Nash trying the electronic infusion pump!

Jamba Juice To The Rescue!

While I can't have my daily Starbucks drink, it's good to know that Jamba Juice is now blending here in Manila! You can now substitute your caffeine intake with a fresh smoothie! Yey!

They have juices blended with non-fat frozen yogurt and sherbet, fruit smoothies, creamy smoothies for chocolate lovers, freshly squeezed juices, fruit and yogurt parfait, steel cut oatmeal, flat breads and wraps! 

I can't wait to taste them all! Prices are from PHP130-PHP190. It's better to get the medium sized smoothie because it's like the size of a Starbucks Venti drink. SULIT!

Hubby's Five Fruit Frenzy and My Banana Berry

Substitution is always welcome! No charge!

...and so Hubby changed his Five Fruit Frenzy to Peach Perfection!

Jamba Juice Philippines

7th Avenue corner 29th Avenue South, Fort Bonifacio

Operating Hours:
Monday to Thursday: 7am-11pm
Friday to Sunday: 7am-1am

Breastfeeding Preparation Tips

Nash and I have been attending a lot of birth classes lately and we are learning so much about breastfeeding. Here’s one interesting thing we learned that we never thought about before – Is your nipple ready for breastfeeding? 

Our nipples come in several sizes and shapes. I think most nipples are protruded, which is good for breastfeeding because it’s going to be easy for the baby to grasp your milk. For others, you may find yours either inverted or flat. If you have an inverted or flat nipples, it may be difficult for you to breastfeed your baby successfully.

 
I learned it is very common when you’re pregnant for the first time, nipples do not protrude completely. Now, in preparation for your breastfeeding plan, you will need to determine whether your nipples are flat or inverted. If so, you may want to use a nipple former. 

  
These are synthetic plastic cup shaped shells that apply pressure to your areola during the period of your pregnancy when the skin is said to be most elastic. Thanks to Medela Moms Philippines and you can get them now here in Manila for only PHP990.00/pair!


You have to wear them inside your bra for a few hours a day during your last trimester, so when the baby arrives, your nipples will be ready for breastfeeding! You will be advised to wear them for only 30 minutes on the first day. Then add an hour on every succeeding days until you can wear them for 8 hours. Yep, only up to a maximum of 8 hours per day and you should never sleep on them too. 

I also got the Medela Purelan 100 for nipple dryness. It contains 100% pure lanolin (wool wax) without any artificial additives or preservatives so you don't have to remove it before breastfeeding. It's also available at Medela Moms Philippines for only PHP600.00.

 

Sweet Perks!

Sure you have back aches, constipation, heart burns, indigestion and a list of discomforts, but there are a lot of perks in being pregnant too. My favorite is that I get to have a designated parking slot in malls! You get to appreciate it now especially that Christmas season is here! It’s busier everywhere and it’s good to know that you don’t have to think about getting a parking lot. 

People are also nicer to you. They hold the doors for you, offer their seats, carry your things, prioritize you in elevator lines etc.! Oh yeah and you get to flip out at your husband for no reason at all and he’ll let you get away with it blaming your hormones! You can also eat a lot without feeling guilty, what’s best is that you are even allowed to look fat! These things make the whole pregnancy worthwhile! 

To Lamaze or not to Lamaze?

They say that Lamaze provides evidence-based healthy birth practices for a healthy pregnancy, childbirth and labor. Since my doctor said that I’ll deliver our baby in the natural way, I thought of checking out the Lamaze room of Medical City. The best thing about delivering your baby there is that you get to bring your husband or anyone in your family or friends inside the room - although you are only allowed to bring one person at a time. It’s a very sterile room, so your guest should be in a lab gown. You can stay there from labor to the actual delivery. 

The rate is PHP30K for the first 6 hours then PHP935/hour on the succeeding hours. That includes Delivery Fee, Surgical Prep, Anesthesia, and Recovery for 2 hours. It doesn't include Doctor's Professional Fee, Pedia, Nursery and etc. You still need to get a room after where you will stay overnight. You wouldn’t know how long your labor is going to be, so be prepared for longer hours (Ouch!). 

Viewing Time

Delivery Suite is the most expensive birthing room in Medical City. You can stay there from labor to delivery - you can even have your C-Section inside, no need to transfer you to the Delivery Room if there will be an emergency CS.

This is my room!

Lamaze Room in Pink and Purple Theme

For your audience!

I wonder what will be in HBO that time!

Due to my low tolerance over pain, I'm still not sure if I can do the Lamaze technique but what’s good to know is that even if you don’t plan to deliver in Lamaze technique (meaning you need epidural/anesthesia and all), you may still use the room. I badly wanted that room! I want my hubby to be there when I scream ha ha ha!  It’s going to be a perfect experience for him too. He can cut the baby’s cord himself and all. 

The bad thing is – Lamaze room in Medical City has a first come, first serve system. Of course you can’t make reservations on the exact date when. If you’re getting the Lamaze room, you also have to pray really hard not to have an emergency C-Section. They will transfer you to the Delivery room if you have to undergo CS because they don’t perform that operation in the Lamaze room, thus leaving your hubby/companion behind plus paying the Lamaze room and the additional rate of the Delivery room usage (Double ouch!).

I’m crossing my fingers now!

Baby Company Shopping

We're halfway through our checklist! Shopped at Baby Company, Power Plant,  Rockwell for the basic infant items we will need! Baby Company is owned by SM. They actually have a range of items from cheap to branded stuff from the US or other countries. I find the store "almost complete" from cribs, strollers down to nail cutters! The sales ladies were very helpful and service oriented too! They'll give you a handy checklist while shopping. It's very convenient. They'll give you discounts on your next purchases when you get the Mom Card.

My First Mom Card

Daddy paying the tags!

You can also have your Baby Registry for Baby Showers, Christenings and Birthdays for no charge at all and your guests get 10% discount when they buy gifts for your baby in their store.